Wire spoke



Oct. 20, 1925. 1,558,126

E. w. STOLER WIRE S POKE Filed Dec. 4, 1924 Fig.1

Patented Oct. 20, 1925.

UNITED STATES EDWARD W. STOLER, OF MANSFIELD, OHIO.

WIRE SPOKE.

Application filed December 4, 1924. Serial No. 753,898.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that EDWARD W. S'romm, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Mansfield, in the county of Richland and State of Ohio, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tim Spokes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in spokes designed for use in wire wheels and the like. and is particularly directed to a method offorming the spoke to permit its yielding under load strains in amanner to avoid breakage.

The invention relates to an improvement in the type, character and embodiment of spoke shown and described in the application for Letters Patent filed by Edward \V. Stoler. entitled Improvements in wire spokes. on April 17th, 1923, Serial No.

By experiment the creation of, and actual reduction to practice of the herein described spoke, it has been found by the inventor that the particular form of spokes shown in the drawing (in the present invention) give more efiiciency in their operation in actual reduction to practice than the ordinary spokes because they are permitted to yield in any direction ata predetermined point of least resistance and .also provides means when the spokes are interlaced in overlapping relation to another and secured to the hub andthe rim, whereby said interlacing of the spokes can be accomplished without strain or binding effect in crossing each other or in other words provide means for clearance between the spokes.

It also has been found that the greatest efficiency in the formation of a spoke is provided by running the taper from the threaded end gradually toward the headed end (or straight from the smaller portion of the spoke) as the spoke retains its resilir ency and is prevented from fracturing and breaking the larger portion of the tapered portion adjacent to the threaded end rather than adjacent to the head portion of the spoke.

It has also been found that to provide a rounded shoulder atthe juncture between the smallest portion of the tapered portion and the portion provided with the head prevents fracture, breakage,.and undue straining of the spoke at the point where the spoke yields, that is at the point of least resistance.

1 One of the objects ofthe. present invention is to provide a spoke that will yield at a predetermined point of least resistance, that is, to so form and produce and'construct a spoke that it will yield in the first instance at the juncture between the smallest diameter of the tapered port-ion and the rounded shouldered portion adjacent to the enlarged portion of the headed end.

A further object is to provide a spoke of such dimensions, shape, and form that a plurality of spokes of like character and construction can be interlaced in overlapping relation to each other and secured to the rim and hub of a wheel to provide clearance between the overlapping spokes to prevent binding or strain.

Another object is to construct :1 spoke for wire wheels, thatthe point of least resistance will be at the juncture of the smallest diameter of the tapered portion (or small diameter straight portion) and a rounded shoulder, which'is contiguous with the headed end and with the largest diameter of the tapered portion gradually being reduced in diameter from a point adjacent to the threaded portion toward the headed portion.

The spokes shown in the drawing are of two types, which are substantially the same as each other, obtaining the same result in substantially the same way, that is, the smallest diameter of the tapered portion is located adjacent to the rounded shouldered portion and is contiguous with theenlarged headed end portion of the spoke.

These and other objects are attained by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a spoke, showing the larger diameter of the tapered portion of the spoke running toward the headed end of the spoke to the center, thence running straight from the smallest portion of the tapered portion to the juncture of the rounded shoulder portion, between the tapered portion and the enlarged head portion.

Figure 2shows aside elevation of a spoke showing the largest portion of the tapered portion tapering gradually from the threaded portion toward the head portion to the juncture between the smallest portion of the tapered portion and the shouldered portion of the head portion.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a wheel showing the plurality of spokes attached to the hub of the wheel and to the rim, showing the spoke interlaced in overlapping relation to each other to provide for clearance between the spokes at the point where they cross or overlap each other.

The construction and method of producing the spoke is as follows:

Referring specifically to Fig. v1, reference numeral 1 indicates the central -portion of the new type of spoke, 2 represents the juncture between the smallest diameter of the tapered portion and the shouldered portion 2, which is contiguous with the enlarged headed portion. Reference numeral 3 represents the enlarged portion of the tapered portion of the spoke, 4 the threaded end of the spoke and 5 represents the headed end portion of the spoke.

Referring to Fig. 1, any part of the straight part of the spoke indicated between reference numerals 1 and 2 is adapted to yield in the first instance, which is the portion of least resistance, when the wheel is subjected to pressure.

The type shown in F ig. 2 is adapted to yield at the point of least resistance indicated by reference numeral 2.

Figure 2 shows a construction of spoke that is gradually tapered from the point indicated at 3 to the point indicated at 2 or juncture between the smallest diameter of the tapered portion and the shouldered portion 2 of the headed portion.

It will be noted that the enlarged portion of the tapered portion is located adjacent to the threaded portion running less in diameter until it mergeswith the shouldered ortion 2 of the headed end of the spoke orming a shoulder between the juncture and the lowest diameter of the tapered portion and enlarged headed portion.

In constructing the spoke tapered, means are provided for clearance between the spokes, when they are secured tothe rim and hub in overlapping relation to each other in fabricating the wheel in so far as the spokes are concerned.

It will be observed that the formation of a-spoke by the hammering or swaging pres sure if the kind and character described provides means of. permitting the spokes to clear and yield at the reduced portions preventing binding, fracturing and straining of the fibers and breakage of the spokes.

The construction and method of producing spokes of the character, form, and type herein described relieves the head shank, which enters the hub shell or the wheel, which acts as the driver thereby relieving the head end of all straining at the bent portion and throwing the bow on slight bend at the reduced portion or points of least resistance nearest the driven end and prevents the bend or headed end of the spoke from becoming crystallized at the head and fracturing or breaking.

In the use of the wheel the spokes will flex inwardly and outwardly under recurring load strains and relief therefrom, thereby preventing the resultant breakage at one or the other of the points.

The method of forming the spoke of the varying or tapered diameters may be mechanically carried as preferred. However, it is believed that a simple and expeditious manner of securing this result is by swaging through a hammering toward the center from the threaded end, thence straight or continuing the taper to headed portion forming same by a series of hammers arranged in radial lines in a chuck or the like with movements in and out, and by a constant hammering or swaging of about ten thousand blows or more to the minute. This method of swaging is usual and needs no further explanation.

The improved spoke is therefore designed for greater life than the ordinary spoke, by providing a weakened portionor point of least resistance remote from the application of pressure, to insure a gradual and maximum curvature when subjected to flexing strains.

Attention is called to the fact that because of the rapid, extensive and intensive hammering of the metal to produce and form a spoke by the process herein described the same process will produce superior struts. and bracing wires for aeroplanes and the like because the size and weight is reduced in tapering same, while at the same time the tensile strength thereof is increased and maintained because of the-amalgamation of the fibers of the metal produced by the intensive hammering process.

I claim:

1. A wire spoke having enlarged straight end portions of'predetermined diameters, one of which is threaded and the other headed, said spoke having a portion adjacent the headed end portion which is of materially less diameter than such end portion to pro-- vide a point of least resistance, that portion of the spoke adjacent the threaded end portion, bem .gradually tapered toward the center of t e spoke; thence continuing from the center without increasing its diameter from said center to the enlarged headed and straight end portion.

2. A wire spoke having end portions of predetermined diameters, one of which is threaded and the other headed, that portion of the spoke immediately adjacent the headed end portion being of reduced diameter, the remaining length of the spoke between eeiiiemed m *lhe intefla centact Z aeke may mainmi en in the Wheei *vit'ixeus meet.

3, A, Wife speke having @115; pofiuens of 7. prea'etermined diameter em 01% which. is threaded the oi went termmd headed, the mteymed we 10mm eii snake being gmehmfiy tzzgered wrong}:

i we, said Eengti a point immediaiely adjacent f 1' headed end. pevtieix and continued ef 1 mum diameter fiem the teyminal 0f the 1 ofiien t0 the heeded; end p Vrtien t0 evide a definite Iiengfh Feast Resistance In a Wire spoke n mz 'ided with emi done of medetermim diameters to each end, one end 01L he spoke mm I L end its enpesme 13152 1335; &

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